Legal Aid Chief Ronit Rubinoff Resigns

Changes are afoot at Legal Aid of Sonoma County, where the nonprofit’s longtime executive director has handed the reins to her deputy.

Ronit Rubinoff, who led the organization for two decades, has been battling Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder. Her new role as director emeritus began Monday.

Rubinoff, 59, is credited with transforming Legal Aid of Sonoma County, which fielded 11,770 calls for help last year and worked 4,000 cases. When she joined the organization in 2004, its budget was about $350,000; it now is $5 million. What once consisted of four people and one paid attorney — Rubinoff — has grown to 45 lawyers, social workers and other staff.

The nonprofit currently operates 10 different legal aid programs, including homelessness, child abuse prevention, domestic violence, elder law, immigrant youth, and economic equality for small businesses owned by people of color.

Rubinoff said in a statement that she is “excited to support the social justice mission in this new role as we develop the leadership needed to ensure Legal Aid continues to grow and provide its critical and lifesaving services to the community.”

She added that work on this change has been ongoing since May.

As director emeritus, Rubinoff will serve as a key advisor, consultant and member of the executive team as the agency recruits a new executive director. While a nationwide search is underway, Sunny Noh, who was Rubinoff’s deputy director, has been named interim executive director.

“It will be difficult to replace Ronit, but we have no doubt that with the foundation she has built, Legal Aid will continue to be one of the most valuable resources in the Sonoma County community,” Jennifer Douglas, chair of the nonprofit’s board and a partner at the North Bay law firm DP&F, said in a statement.

You can reach Staff Writer Jeremy Hay at 707-387-2960 or [email protected]. X (Twitter) @jeremyhay